In this edition of the hotstove we look at which players have surprised us the most this season.
The choices can be players exceeding expectations, bouncing back, struggling after years of productivity, etc.
Todd Cordell
I'll go with Cory Schneider.
The Devils' defense certainly is more to blame for his poor numbers than he is, but I could have never imagined a scenario where an undisputed top-5 goaltender owns a .907 save percentage midway through December. Whether the defense in front of him tightens up or not, I still expect some bounce back. That said, it's crazy we are at this point.
Heading into the year Schneider posted a .920SV% or better in six straight seasons. He has a lot of work to do if he wants to push that streak to seven.
Peter Tessier
Chad Johnson, hands down.
There are always a handful of surprises that come every NHL season, some one scoring at a huge rate, out of nowhere rises to prominence and more but I don't think Chad Johnson gets enough credit.
Where would the Flames be if they had simply doubled down on their bet on Brian Elliot? Johnson has had some success over his career and last year in Buffalo was not that bad, rather it was pretty good, but he gets no love. In 45 game with Buffalo he had a .920 save percentage, in 27 games with Boston a .925.
Perhaps it's not that surprising that he's stepped up this way but only because he has never really received much credit to start.
James Tanner The biggest surprise this year has to be Auston Matthews. I knew he was going to be a good player, but I didn't expect nearly ppg production and a top-five volume shooter.
I think he's wingers have combined for like 6 or 8 goals all year, so if he was with another productive player he might have enough assists to be a top ten scorer.
I expect him to win scoring titles in the future, in years where Connor McDavid gets injured, but I just didn't expect him to be a superstar out of the gate.
At this point, I think he's the hands-down no-contest Calder winner and I think even writers in Columbus and Winnipeg have to acknowledge that.
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